Cowboys edge out Bearkats in 5-4 battle

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Led by relief pitcher Brock Barthelemy in the final innings, McNeese Baseball staved off Sam Houston for a 5-4 victory at Joe Miller Ballpark Tuesday night to snap a losing streak. The Cowboys elevate their record to 17-18, 2-7 SLC before returning to conference play while the Kats fell to 21-16, 4-8 C-USA.

“It was a good win in a close ballgame. We had some clutch hitting and did well in situational hitting,” said head coach Justin Hill. “Brock had a great moment tonight.”

Barthelemy, a senior, entered the duel with one out on the board in the sixth, holding Sam Houston scoreless through the final 3.2 innings of work. He struck out a season-high five batters while only allowing one hit. He was credited with the save as senior Brian Shadrick earned the victory.

While the Bearkats took an early lead in the second inning, it didn’t last long as the Cowboys sent three home in the bottom of the third. As senior Ben David sat on third and junior Simon Larranaga waited on second, junior Conner Westenburg hit a triple out to left center to drive in both runs. On the same play, Westenburg took advantage of an error to score himself for the 3-1 lead.

Responding with one run in the fourth and fifth, Sam Houston tied up the ballgame followed up by a McNeese two-run bottom of the fifth to regain the advantage. Senior Cooper Hext scored on an RBI single by Westenburg before he scored in the next at-bat. The Bearkats scored one more run in the sixth, the final run for either squad.

Juniors Simon Larranaga and Conner Westenburg each recorded two hits in the outing as four more batters combined for the second half of the team’s hits.

McNeese takes to the road this weekend against New Orleans in Southland play for a three-game series.

Pitching Appearances
Kainin Morrow: 3.0 IP, 5 K’s, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 ER
Max Swenson: 1.0 IP, 0 K, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 ER
Brian Shadrick: 0.2 IP, 0 K, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, Win
Daelan Caraway: 0.2 IP, 2 K’s, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 ER
Brock Barthelemy: 3.2 IP, 5 K’s, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 ER

McNeese Notes
Simon Larranaga recorded his fourth consecutive game with a hit.
Westenburg earned his 12th multi-hit game of the season.
Six batters recorded a hit for the Coiwboys.
Poke Nation has recorded six or more hits in 28 games this season.
Kainin Morrow and Barthelemy threw a team-high five strikeouts.